PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino has opened up about playing with Former Super Eagles star and Nigeria Legend Jay-Jay Okocha.
The PSG boss —who during his playing days at Parc de princes— played alongside some of the best players in the World, including Okocha, has shared his experience.
Before PSG became an oil-rich club that bought players like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Jnr, they have had talented players like Okocha and Ronaldinho.
Pochettino had once put Okocha and Ronaldinho on the same pedestal with Maradona, and has has now shared what it is like to play with the two magicians.
In an interview with Ligue 1, Pochettino described Okocha, Ronaldinho, and Anelka as ‘Amazing'.
He said: Well, the first day I arrived, the first goal that I scored at the Parc des Princes… to have the possibility to play with players like [Jay Jay] Okocha, Ronaldinho… Yes, to be in the Parc des Princes with our fans.
“They were amazing. I don't know, many many memories.”
“Twenty years ago, of course, this with Okocha, Ronaldinho, Anelka… Many players were amazing.”
Okocha and Pochettino were teammates for Paris Saint-Germain between 2001 and 2002. The Nigerian icon played 84 games for the Ligue 1 giants scoring 12 goals.
The former Argentina international is now the manager at the club, where he currently coaches three of best players of their generation.
And when asked how Okocha and Ronaldinho will fare against the likes of Messi and Mbappe, Pochettino refused to be drawn into the argument.
“We are talking about the best players in the world,” Pochettino added.
“It is difficult to compare because… I hate to compare the players because we are talking about the best players in the world, and 20 years ago of course this with Okocha, Ronaldinho, Anelka…”
“Many players that were amazing. And now we are talking about Neymar, Mbappé, Messi… you cannot go higher than this level of player,” he concluded.
Jay Jay Okoch is one of Greatest player of all time
Greatest kor… someone that scored 12 goals in 84 appearance with how skillful he was..all he does is just dribble up and down
Because he enjoyed the game… Football isn’t only about scoring goals
You be equal
Is he a striker????
For people like you who know nothing about football, scoring goals is everything. People like you are the reasons football is dying. 20 years ago, you want a midfielder to score 20 goals in a season.
Don’t mind them, it will shock them when they realize jay jay has more career goals than the likes of xavi, iniesta Zidane et-al
Learn to appreciate your own, is he a striker?
Okocha was never a striker. He was a creative midfielder who’s job was to create numerous opportunities for others to score goals. He was never played in a striker’s position. All those who played with him saw him as a joy to be with. Doing his thing while laying it on the plate for you to score. Ronaldinho started scoring goals when he was pushed upfield and he played as a 7.
Yes, you are right
As a mark of worthy home honour for Augustin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha for his tremendous contribution to the beauty of the game of football in the world, and his remarkable contributions to the past successes of the Super Eagles, I propose that NFF give and support him a task to scout for and develop 10 young talents that can adequately replace his bundle of talent in Nigeria and the world.
For me, this will be a marvelous honour to this wonderful footballing artist. It will arguably be worth more than the African Player Award he never won (albeit questionably).
He is still alive and fit to make this honourable contribution in furtherance of the growth of the game in Nigeria.
I concur
I also agree with you on this great suggestion
I can agree to this, Okocha is arguably one of the greatest that ever attained the game of football on earth.
I agree with u
I wish.
NFF won’t honour him with such task, instead they will give d scouting out for a financial benefits. Don’t think they don’t give other players d Business of scouting players, but they must give returns
That you made a name while playing football doesn’t mean they should saddle the responsibility of catching young talents to you. We have other capable hands who can do that… He can’t do it. How do you expect him to start moving to grassroots to get young players? Big man dey dat guy body….
This “magic ” on the field put him in the position to do just that and it is a unprejudiced selection criteria for such mandate. Who condition have others available as you claim to give them this task? I sense impending nepotism in your selection process if you are by stroke of chance in a position to appoint someone to that position.
And una call this one news?
Abeg find better work.
Nonsense and Buhari
Jayjay is into showbiz in football leave him there biko make him dey entertain us for charity matches exhibition games betking Ambassador. The younger bro has a scouting club in owerri. Odogwu can’t be everywhere now ..
I concur with the guy that suggested NFF to give him contract based on training younger stars to continue the magic legacy…we would love to see that happen